Her name is Sonja Griffin Evans. When thinking of ways to illustrate Hilton Head Island and Bluffton’s black history for this issue, her beautiful paintings came to mind. Not only did she agree to let us use her art, she created a new painting just for us.
In addition to celebrating black history, February is also our big bridal issue. Sonja tied the two subjects together by painting a Gullah bride “Jumping the Broom,” an African American custom for marriage.
Hilton Head Monthly From dark to light 27Jan2015 Written by Tim Wood
In an area filled with talented artists, Sonja Griffin Evans is one of the best! Read her story in our current issue or check out the online version here (the print version looks better): http://www.hiltonheadmonthly.com/…/…/3503-from-dark-to-light
“Everything in life has a purpose” she affirmed. “Even the grass that we stand on every day has a purpose for sustaining the environment in which we live. So the gifts and the talents we have are for a purpose.” http://theweeklychallenger.com/gift-from-god/
PressGift from God Posted on July 24, 2014 by TWC in Arts & Entertainment, Featured Gift from God Posted on July 24, 2014 by TWC in Arts & Entertainment, Featured
http://theweeklychallenger.com/gift-from-god/
St. Petersburg's center for art representing the African Diaspora prepares for a visit from Sonja Griffin Evans.http://www.dupontregistrytampabay.com
Coastal Lifestyle Magazine
"The couple also collected art over the years. “We’ve picked up pieces that we like from travels to Europe, Russia, Southeast Asia, India, and China, but we also have pieces by local artists. One favorite by Domi Williams of Panama City is over the fireplace in the living room. We also have several pieces by Sonja Griffin Evans from Pensacola. We love her painting ‘The Fruit Bearers’ that hangs in our bedroom foyer.”
Southern Lady Magazine Two Days Away: Pensacola, Fla. - Southern Lady Magazinewww.southernladymagazine.com/two-days-away-pensacola-fla/ May 8, 2014 - Artist Sonja Griffin Evans's Gumbo Gallery spotlights multicultural art and serves as her studio as well.
Bella Magazine
Pensacola News Journal Gumbo Gallery owner fosters art scene in Belmont area Written byRhema Thompson rthompson3@pnj.com
You could say the work of Sonja Griffin Evans began with an opened door.
"One of the very first pieces I ever painted when I first started was a door that was called 'Freedom's Door,' which was built around New Year's Eve of the Emancipation Proclamation.
"And the person was walking through that door for the very last time, walking into a new-found freedom, a new way of life. ... Now, as I look at it, that's where I was," she said. ...
Inweekly Artist helps Families First A well-known Pensacola artist is helping FamiliesFirst Network of Lakeview Center to recruit foster families from within African-American communities. http://ricksblog.biz/artist-helps-familiesfirst/
Press
Gift from God Posted on July 24, 2014 by TWC in Arts & Entertainment, FeaturedGift from God
Posted on July 24, 2014 by TWC in Arts & Entertainment, Featured http://theweeklychallenger.com/gift-from-god/
Winners & Losers 6/13/13WINNERS http://inweekly.net/wordpress/?p=15526 Sonja Griffin Evans Having recently celebrated its fourth anniversary, Pensacola’s Gumbo Gallery was awarded the Flame Keepers Award for Art Galleries at the 2013 African Diaspora World Tourism Awards. Gallery owner and artist Sonja Griffin Evans received the award, presented in Atlanta, which recognizes institutions displaying art depicting black culture and heritage that have contributed to tourism development through increased traffic. Gumbo Gallery was recognized along with the IFAN Museum of Arts in Senegal, Africa.